Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1887-04-07
MARBLE TINE.
How Yoapg America Now Spends HIS
Leisure Momenus-Youos: 5peeui2tors.

Leisure m momenus-Youoss bpoeulAtors.
There Ia some unknown law which
has from time uncomfortable governed
the time for boys games. A few W eeks
since 1t was "kite time" and the cleo.
trio wires throughout the city yet attest
how we'll 1t was observed by Young
America. This was followed by top
time" which now has given place to
''marble time" and ON every hand
boys can be set n, on ala fours down in
the dirt, trying to shoot his Imam"
with suffi ficient precision to scatter the
commons" in the centre Of the ring,
while his companions Gtand around
waiting their turn, and occasiona,ly
oalhnR out "knuck, 70, ""hooks" or some
other my sterious word, the meaning Of
which is unknown except to the play
ers themselves. AT this season the
small boys pockets bulge with white
alleys,"' ''commons" and "agates," to
the infinite disgust Of careful mothers,
who in their vesation utter unmeaning
threats Of putting q stop to the nut
sance by sewing the pockets up.
1t would be q difficult matter to tell
when or where the game of marbles
was first play sd, bat there Is no doubt
Of Its being very ancient. and as the
marbles OF the present day are mod.
ern institution, 1t Is probable that
the game was first played with
smooth pebbles. The game as now
played 10 complicated, but the object Ia
the same as ever-to win the "other
fellsr's" las. marble, consequently the
/ boy who plays marbles for "keeps" ID
as much sDeculator as the ''childrep'
OF larger growth" who dabble In stocks
or "Inonkey with the buzz saw" of
Il 10 I'M aroipuD In tho hncLat anpna Tia
I boy who engages in this gsme must be
ready, not only to shear the 'laiabs,"
but II he should find n player more ex.
pert than himself, he must submit to
the sheariug process without grumbltng
or fight will be likely 10 result.
The evil genius Of the marble players
is "the snatcher." He is generally o
big boy who waits until he gees party
Of smaller boys have their marbles in
the ring, when he steps In md pockets
the entire "pot," and II his vic.ims
complain. the youthful pirate Is apt to
send them flying by threatening to
thrash the entire party. Sometimes,
however, he does not eEcape so easily
and 10 obliged to seek safety from a
shower Of stones by flying as fast as his
feet will carry him. Almost every bog
has his own method Of shooting" and
Isone betray an inherent vein Of euper,
stition by epttting on the imam" for
Igood LUCK before 1t leaves their hand.
The game requires considerable skill
land great deal Of practice 10 required
to constitute successful player.
Some moraliits condemn 1t on the
ground that 1t causes a love for games
lof chance, and is likely, as the boy
[grows older, to incuicate desire in him
to gamble, but 1t is scarcely probable
thai 1t would be any more likely to have
that tendency than the "prize chewing
lgum," or pop corn bags with draws
which are offered for sale In hundreds
Iof stores. 1t lie, however, best not tC
anticipate trouble, and as it is enc ol
the lmpossibilities to put mems head,
on boys shoulders, IL will be well tc
let young America enjoy his games at
the season rolls around for each, as the
heydey of boyhood will pass all tor
soon, when kites, tops and marbles viii
have 10 give place TO the stern realitie;
of life.